Six of the most common household cleaning scams

It’s fair to say that most people in business are honest and hardworking, however, there will always be a few bad apples. These are the types of people who cut corners, don’t deliver what was promised or flat out scam customers out of their hard-earned money.

Those of us in the cleaning industry have seen this come in waves over the years. While review websites have helped a lot by making it much harder for bad operators to stay in business, it is still possible for some to take advantage of customers before they burn their reputation to the ground.

The good news is that you have me here to help. As a professional cleaner I’ve had customers fall prey to loads of scams over the years, so I’ve compiled the most common ones in a list to stop you becoming the next victim.

Take note of these tips so you don't become a victim of a cleaning scam. Photo: iStock

1. The bait and switch

This is the most common scam in the cleaning industry, especially the carpet cleaning industry. Here’s how it works:

You see an advertisement that seems like a great deal, “Three rooms for $59”. They’ll take your details, make the appointment and even show up on time. That’s where they get you. Once they are in your home they change the deal, say the carpet is too messy or the rooms are too big.

To avoid this fate, ask a lot of questions up front and get the deal in writing if you can. Also, don’t be afraid to back out of the deal if it changes at the last minute.

2. The wet carpet scam

The best types of customers are ones with relatively simple houses with minimal stains. Truth is, a stubborn stain can be very difficult to clean. The darker truth is that most companies won’t even bother to try.

Wet carpets are great at hiding stains as they look a more consistent colour when wet. Scam cleaners will tell you that a stain will be removed after the carpet dries. Or, that the chemicals they use take a while to work so it could be an hour or two before the stain lifts.

Don’t buy it! Refuse to pay the invoice until you’ve seen what the carpet looks like when it’s dry.

3. Green cleaning scams

We all know that natural and green cleaning products are popular right now, and no one understands this more than industry professionals. Many will advertise their services as being green friendly when in reality they are anything but.

Eco-friendly products are more expensive so some will cut corners and use synthetic cleaners instead.

If you are concerned about this is happening to you, ask for the specific brand of cleaner they use and do some research to make sure it suits you.

Don’t be fooled by green-marketing tricks. Photo: iStock

4. Gutter cleaning scams

Many homeowners don’t have the time or equipment to clean their gutters, which is why there are now many specific gutter cleaning companies to help. Most of them use pressure washers to blast everything out but this won’t always be effective and sometimes elbow grease is needed. If that gets too tough, a lot of companies won’t even bother finishing.

The problem is you can’t actually see inside gutters to make sure the work was done. And if it wasn’t, it won’t be too long before your gutters are overflowing again.

To avoid this, don’t be afraid to ask for pictures of the finished job. It will save you having to get up on a ladder and confirm yourself.

6. End of lease guarantee

For some, the end of a lease is the only time they get their homes professionally cleaned. The all important reason being the bond return! In response, many cleaning companies will offer a bond return or a money back guarantee.

However, many of these companies never stick by this promise or have such specific terms that it’s impossible to claim it. To get around this, ask specific questions about the guarantee and, I can’t stress this enough, get something in writing.

Michael Brooke is a professional carpet cleaner located in Sydney. His company, Carpet Cleaning Sydney, takes pride in delivering honest services to their customers.